Let's get physical...

I've been wondering about this for a while, but does anyone think the physical home button on the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note II have anything to do with their success? The just recently released Galaxy Note 8 also has a physical home button (which was not on the Galaxy Note 10) and it make me think that Samsung feels that that button does make a difference.

Does it help iPhone users transition to those phones? I own a Galaxy Note II and will admit that having that button does make me think it's easier to use. I own another Android phone and a Tab 2 that doesn't have physical buttons, but I think there is some mental process that prefers the tactile feedback an actual button provides.

Maybe Apple should have copyrighted the physical home button. Heh.

HTC One... not enough to beat the Four (Galaxy S IV)?

So HTC announced their 2013 flagship phone, the One today... and while it has a nice design and great specs (1080p screen!)... I don't think it's going to be able to compete once Sammy announces their Galaxy S IV in mid March.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/19/htc-one-unveiled/

(picture from Engadget)

One glaring con for me is the lack of a microSD card slot. I still don't understand why they do that (as with Google's Nexus series). The explanations for controlled environment etc just don't counter the convenience of expandable and switchable storage. I think it's one of the reasons why Samsung's Galaxy series does so well because they still have microSD expansion.

HTC says availability is mid March... but since that coincides with Sammy's rumored announcement... I don't see people rushing to get a One when they can get the IV.

iWatch vs. Galaxy Watch

There are rumors that Apple is working on an iWatch:

http://bgr.com/2013/02/13/apple-iwatch-details-bloomberg-326158/

And that Samsung is working on a Galaxy Watch:

http://bgr.com/2013/02/14/samsung-galaxy-watch-images-rumor-327615/

Really? Based on those articles, wristwatch computing is a "major hole" in their product lines and these will fill it. I'm skeptical.

Myself and at least a few people I know stopped wearing watches because our phone tells time and does so much more... so why go back?

Now, I understand that these "watchputers" are supposed to do more than just tell time... but with such a small amount of space, how much more can they do without sacrificing size and battery life?

It might be kind of cool if it can function as a phone too so that you don't have to worry about pockets, holsters or armbands... but that kind of miniaturization has to be expensive and cost prohibitive. Even the Pebble Watch (http://getpebble.com) is $150 so how much more will these be (although if it has phone functionality, could get carrier subsidies).

I'm sure these will be more like vanity gadgets and the previous gen iPod Nano proved it can fit in that form factor but I don't think this will become a money maker segment.

I guess we'll see.. but I think the minimum features should be:

- Camera (video and still)
- GPS
- Expandable memory storage
- Bluetooth (to interact with your phone)

I'm still watiing for someone to get a 5-7" tablet with physical game controls right (Archos is close).

Overhyped products of 2010?

ZDNet had an interesting article:

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/the-five-most-overhyped-tech-products-of-2010/42155

5. iPad
4. Kinect
3. Galaxy Tab
2. Google TV
1. 3DTV

I can sort of agree about the iPad... there is a lot of hype... but it does what it says it does and most people are happy with it.

I don't understand the Kinect entry. It does what it says and in fact, I think it's the best motion system out right now. It's sort of what Wii did to console gaming... Kinect is doing to motion gaming... making it easier for anyone to play. Since I have 2 PS3s and a Wii... the last thing I wanted to do was buy an Xbox.... but the Kinect made it hard not to... and now we have 2 TVs in our family room.... one is dedicated to the Kinect.

I don't really think the Galaxy Tab is overhyped... just overpriced. It's running an open source OS, is only a 7" screen and it cost MORE than an Apple product? Since when does Apple become the more economical buy?

Considering GoogleTV just came out recently... how can it be overhyped.

3DTV definitely belongs at the top of the list. I don't think I'll ever get one until they can do it without the glasses.

Some of the comments argue that Windows Phone 7 should be on that list... and that might be true. But after playing with it this past weekend, it's actually a slick mobile OS. But like RIM, playing catchup with iOS and Android is going to be tough.

The Droid Pro is almost like my dream phone, they just need to add the optical pad on there and put it on Sprint. I really want to get an Android phone, I just don't like the ones out right now... I'll take an Incredible if it was on Sprint.

Time flies...

... when you don't update your blog.

Like I've said previously... it's hard to keep updating when you're lazy. And now with the holidays coming up (does Christmas start BEFORE Halloween now?)... it's going to be harder.

MMA
1. UFC 123 was decent. I don't know why people keep thinking the Rampage/Machida match decision was controversial. It wasn't close. For a bad decision, go watch the first Machida/Rua fight... or even worse the Forrest/Rampage fight. Even though Penn knocked Hughes out quickly... I don't think he's big enough for 170. I do think Hughes should consider retiring, like Lidell... he's getting knocked out way too easily.

2. The Ultimate Fighter is interesting this season but where I used to have some respect for Koscheck... I've lost it all during this season. He's just a bully and based on his trash talking... I can see why Paul Daley reacted the way he did after their fight. I don't condone it... one should never fight after the bell... but I sort of understand it. I think it's going to be Brookins or Michael Johnson to win this season. But I can't wait to see GSP own Koscheck... looking forward to that.

Notebooks
1. The MacBook Airs came out and they are really nice. They have to be seen in person to be fully appreciated but it's amazing what Apple can do with Intel parts yet other PC makers can't. It's just too bad they removed the keyboard backlighting as I would have probably picked up either the 11 or 13 inch.

2. Still haven't found Biggie or Smalls. I thought the Envy-14 would work but they don't have the 1600x900 screen option anymore. The Toshiba 7xx Portege is okay... but I've added backlit keyboards to my list of must haves. I tried an old Latitude since it's the only one that supports 1920x1200 but it was too big. I really hate the new 1920x1080 (Full HD or 1080p) resolution but that's what all the notebooks with high res display have moved to. Maybe Dell will make a new Adamo with that resolution.

3. Dell is coming out with a convertible, called the Inspiron Duo. It's an 11" netbook form factor (10" screen) that flips and becomes a tablet. You can pre-order at the Microsoft online store or Dell within a few weeks.

Tablets/Pads
1. Still resisting the iPad. I really do wish they made a 7" version, but Jobs has said no to that form factor. We'll see what the iPad 2 looks like next year.

2. The Android pads are slowly leaking out with the Samsung Galaxy Tab getting the most press. It's a 7 incher but it's way too expensive if you ask me, more than the iPad. There are other lower brand name pads like the Huewei, Velocity Cruz, Pandigital, Archos and others... but are all older Android versions and may not have Market capability.

3. RIM (Blackberry) is coming out with the PlayBook... but with them losing market share in the smartphone market... it's going to be a hard sell.

4. HP release the Slate running Win7 for corporate and is backordered... but everyone still wants them to come out with a WebOS pad.

Phones
1. Tons of Android phones still hitting the market with more on the way in the next few months. Nothing really has impressed me. It would nice to see an Incredible-like phone hit more carriers... but that's why Verizon gets the exlusives.

2. Windows Phone 7 came out. Did anyone notice? I haven't even played with one yet... it just hasn't been compelling enough for me to take the time to do so. I wonder if most people feel like that too?

3. Seems like Verizon will be getting their iPhone. I wonder if it will have a redesigned antennae and if it will be LTE only (so they can do the simultaneous voice/data like AT&T)?

4. If you haven't downloaded VLC Player for the iPhone/iPad, you should. Makes loading/playing videos on the iDevices so much easier... no conversions and it plays almost all formats.

TV
1. Stargate Universe is one of the best sci-fi shows out right now.

2. I'm still giving The Event a chance but it's losing steam... good thing Fringe has sort of filled my Lost void.

3. Started watching Nikita, having watched Salt recently... I actually like this show. It doesn't hurt that Maggie Q is the lead.

4. Not watching Survivor or Amazing Race anymore... not enough time and it makes me sad because I still like to watch those reality-type shows but it's hard to just drop in the middle not knowing their background.

5. Tried to start No Ordinary Family... but haven't got past the pilot. Maybe The Cape will fare better (which reminds me... I don't even watch Smallville anymore).

My perfect cell/wireless/mobile phone...

For about 6 years I've had 2 cell (I know that's an old name but that's what it was when I first got one in the 90s) phones, one for business and one for personal use. While it's a pain to carry 2 phones... it does give me some flexibility in my mobile devices, carriers, data plans and usage. My primary personal phone is on Sprint and I've gone from a regular dumbphone to a feature phone to a WinMo HTC Touch Pro and now a Palm Treo Pro. I've always liked Windows Mobile, the platform is fairly open, I don't require lots of customization, I like resistive touch screens and it does what I need to do. Why I went from an HTC Touch Pro to a Palm Treo Pro is a long story involving 4 hardware replacements (the TP's screen just kept going out) and finally realizing I prefer the portrait keyboard ala Blackberry style.

And since I'm mentioning them, RIM just announced their new OS, Blackberry 6, which catches them up with the iOS/Android features and a new form factor, a sliding portrait keyboard touchscreen phone like the Palm Pre called the Blackberry Torch:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/03/live-from-rim-and-atandamp-ts-blackberry-torch-event/

My second phone was on AT&T (Cingular before that) and also went the dumbphone to smartphone route and until recently was stuck at the HTC Tilt for 3 years. Again, it was WinMobile, had a slide out qwerty, touchscreen and for the most part was very reliable. The last 6 months or so, the battery went weird, it would not hold a charge for more than 5-10 minutes so I always had to have it plugged in and almost replaced it with an iPhone 3GS last year. I wanted to either get an Android phone (AT&T's choices were limited or none) or the HP Glisten... which is another WinMo phone with a portrait keyboard. But I wanted to see what the new iPhone 4 was going to be and if AT&T would come out with some other Android or WinMo offering. Once I saw the features of the new iPhone, I couldn't resist the pixel density of the IPS LCD, or what Jobs calls the Retina Display. And knowing I could jailbreak if needed, I made the move. At the same time, I had hoped that the rumors of an HD Mini would come out for AT&T... running WinMo but having that smaller form factor. But with MS announcing Windows Phone 7 (which I'm not a fan of), that chance was slim, and instead, the same hardware came out from HTC but it was an Android phone called the Aria.

Which brings me to my perfect phone. I really like the portrait keyboards and having my Palm Treo Pro, I've come to like their layout and how they've changed it to match the needs of the times. Their current layout on the Pre and Pixi is great and while some people don't like the rubberized key feel, I find it works for me. And while I wish HP would get their act together with the more superior webOS, Android is gaining too much marketshare and momentum to ignore. So the OS of choice right now would be Android. I also like that they have the option of a separate navigation device in the trackpad so you don't always have to rely on touch and it's also much more precise.

This brings me to this shoddily put together phone I would like to see:

Yes... it's a Palm Pixi body with an Android OS. I lowered the keyboard to make room for the bigger screen and the Android buttons/optical trackpad. If Sprint can come out with something like this, I'll pay full price.

Why is RIM the only one doing portrait keyboard phones? There is a market for this... at least for me.

Nintendo goes 3D... S, PS3 starts to Move and iPhone pre-orders are killing server farms.

At the 2nd day of E3, Nintendo's keynote introduced us to the new 3DS, with glasses-free 3D, an analog control pad and the ability to play videos:

More details at: http://e3.nintendo.com/3ds/

Sony shows us their new motion-based controller... the Move: It's kind of like an ice cream on a Wii-mote:

I wonder how this will compete with Xbox360's no-controller motion system? More info at:

http://us.playstation.com/ps3/playstation-move/index.htm

And... today is iPreOrder day... but you'll have a hard time getting it online from Apple and AT&T as there have been many reports of delays, no responses etc etc. And trying to go to a local store is just as bad as AT&T has made an official announcement that they have sold out of their launch day pre-order inventory and a visit to my local Best Buy shows pre-order numbers higher than what they are rumored to get.

Must be nice to be able to print money like Steve Jobs can.

I think Verizon and Sprint should really get on HTC about not making enough EVOs and Incredibles. They have this huge demand before the next iPhone release because when it does... demand for their best phones will wane (well... the Droid X is supposed to hit before then on VZW).

EVO-lution... 4G has arrived.

So today is the day the EVO goes on sale. For those who don't know, it's the 1st 4G phone being sold in the US and is running on WiMAX on the Sprint network.

http://now.sprint.com/firsts/evo4g/

4G is supposed to be rolled out in my area by the end of the year but even that will be limited. I am tempted to get one (one of my phones is Sprint... my oh so favorite Palm Treo Pro) but after playing with the dummy model at Best Buy the last two weeks... the phone is just way too big.

But you never know... it's funny how phones used to be getting smaller... and now are getting bigger again.

That's Incredible!

Anyone watch that show way back when?

Well... Verizon will soon release (April 29) their newest "Droid" phone, the HTC Incredible (which they are calling the Droid Incredible). If I were to get an Android phone, this would probably be the one. Very close in specs to Google's private labeled Nexus One but with an optical trackpad instead of the trackball (which I prefer).

It has been reviewed by both Engadget:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/droid-incredible-review/

And BoyGeniusReport (the back of the phone is interesting):

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/04/19/htc-droid-incredible-for-verizon-wireless-review/

I really wish Sprint was getting one of these but I guess they are going all-in on the EVO with 4G.